Implement for Processing, Particularly Sealing, Ground Surfaces Under Water, Particularly Bottoms and Embankments of Waterways, Particularly Canals, a Method for Setting Up the Same, a Method for Moving the Same, a Method for Sealing Ground Surfaces Using the Same, and the Like

ABSTRACT

A working apparatus for processing, especially sealing, underwater bed areas, especially banks and bottoms of waterways, especially canals, a process for setting up said apparatus, a process for moving said apparatus and uses of said apparatus are described. The working apparatus comprises a plurality of polygonal hollow pipes arranged in parallel side by side and at least substantially without gaps, the upper ends of which form a horizontal, at least substantially flat working platform, wherein each hollow pipe has on its outer wall at least one projection extending substantially horizontally with a flange disposed on its outer end and extending vertically and at least one corresponding flange insertion aperture with a slot immediately above it which runs vertically and extends as far as the upper end of the hollow pipe, the flange insertion aperture being disposed further away from the upper end of the hollow pipe than the projection with the flange and being of greater horizontal dimensions than the slot, and wherein neighbouring hollow pipes are in engagement with one another via a respective projection on one of the hollow pipes with a corresponding slot in the other of the hollow pipes, such that the hollow pipes cannot be moved relative to one another in the horizontal direction and only at the outer edge of the working platform can at least one hollow pipe be pulled out individually in the vertically upward direction.

The present invention relates to an apparatus for processing, especiallysealing, underwater bed areas, especially banks and bottoms ofwaterways, especially canals, and a process for setting up saidapparatus, and also a process for moving said apparatus. In addition,the present invention relates to a process for extensively incorporatingminerals, mixtures of minerals or minerals consolidated with binders onan underwater bed area, especially banks and bottoms of waterways,especially canals, using the working apparatus, a process for removingsilt from underwater bed areas, especially banks and bottoms ofwaterways, especially canals, using the working apparatus, a process fordredging waterways and bodies of water, especially in the tidal region,using the working apparatus, a process for creating dams in waterwaysand bodies of water, using the working apparatus, and equipment fordriving on a working platform of the working apparatus.

In order to process beds and banks of waterways, floating equipment isused as the working platform, such as pontoons or ships. In some cases,the work is also carried out from the land where possible.

Conventional working platforms are, however, difficult to position andare vulnerable to waves and currents. Another disadvantage is that bedsand banks of waterways can only be processed imprecisely in this way.Especially when it comes to installing seals, especially clay seals,under water, the problem arises that, after its installation, the sealis left open and unprotected for a lengthy period, so that scouring anddamage can be caused by waves, currents and passing ships.

The present invention is thus based on the problem of providing aworking apparatus or working platform which can be firmly positioned ina waterway, which is not vulnerable to waves and currents, which permitsthe precise processing of the bed and bank areas and which protects aseal once installed under water against scouring and damage caused bywaves, currents and passing ships.

This problem is solved in accordance with the invention by a workingapparatus for processing, especially sealing, underwater bed areas,especially banks and bottoms of waterways, especially canals, comprisinga plurality of polygonal hollow pipes arranged in parallel side by sideand at least substantially without gaps, the upper ends of which form ahorizontal, at least substantially flat working platform, wherein eachhollow pipe has on its outer wall at least one projection extendingsubstantially horizontally with a flange disposed on its outer end andextending vertically and at least one corresponding flange insertionaperture with a slot immediately above it which runs vertically andextends as far as the upper end of the hollow pipe, the flange insertionaperture being disposed further away from the upper end of the hollowpipe than the projection with the flange and being of greater horizontaldimensions than the slot, and wherein neighbouring hollow pipes are inengagement with one another via a respective projection on one of thehollow pipes with a corresponding slot in the other of the hollow pipes,such that the hollow pipes cannot be moved relative to one another inthe horizontal direction and only at the outer edge of the workingplatform can at least one hollow pipe be pulled out individually in thevertically upward direction. The working apparatus of the inventionserves to process underwater bed areas and at the same time provides aworking platform which can be firmly positioned on an underwater bedarea. It is therefore also possible to speak of a workingapparatus/platform or a combined working apparatus and platform. Inaddition, a process is provided for setting up the working apparatus onan underwater bed area, especially beds and banks of waterways,especially canals, characterised in that it comprises:

-   (a) lowering a first hollow pipe onto the underwater bed area,-   (b) lowering a second hollow pipe next to the first hollow pipe    until the or a flange insertion aperture of the second hollow pipe    is on the same level as the or a flange of the first hollow pipe,-   (c) thrusting the flange insertion aperture of the second hollow    pipe onto the flange of the first hollow pipe, and-   (d) lowering the second hollow pipe onto the underwater bed area,    and-   (e) repeating steps (b)-(d) analogously with further hollow pipes to    set up the working platform.

With the process of the invention, the upper ends of the hollow pipesform a horizontal, at least substantially flat working platform, whichextends above the surface of the water. The working platform ought to beapprox. 1 m above the water level, but this depends on the individualsituation of the construction work, the waterway, the strength andload-bearing capacity of the bed and bank material and the tidal range.

The hollow pipes are preferably honeycomb pipes, such as hexagonalsingle honeycomb pipes and/or double honeycomb pipes formed from them,and optionally adapter pipes or end pipes, which may for example takethe form of a one-and-a-half-fold hexagon and may be provided in orderto create a relatively straight outer contour of the working platformwhen seen from above. The honeycomb pipes are conveniently from 1,500 mmto 3,000 mm in diameter, but depending on the application and/or load tobe borne, they may also be smaller or larger in diameter. The length ofthe honeycomb pipes is determined by the depth of the waterway or bodyof water to be processed, the strength and load-bearing capacity of thebed or bank material and the tidal range.

Once set up, the working apparatus can be used either only as a workingapparatus or in addition or alternatively as a working platform. If itis merely used as a working apparatus, it can be loaded and unloadedfrom floating equipment. Alternatively, it is also conceivable that theworking apparatus is loaded and unloaded from land. If it is used bothas a working apparatus and as a working platform, it can be loaded andunloaded from the working platform itself.

If the working apparatus is also used as a working platform, it is able,when loads are applied at specific points, to spread them over a widerarea on the bed or bank of a waterway, so that it is possible to driveon the working platform with a working machine, such as an excavator, tocarry out work in and on the waterway.

In addition, the present invention provides a process for moving theworking apparatus, characterised in that the last row of hollow pipes inthe direction of movement can be pulled out upwards, one after theother, and lowered again at the front end of the working platform in thedirection of movement, until the or a flange insertion aperture of thelowered hollow pipe is on the same level as the or a flange of aneighbouring hollow pipe, the flange insertion aperture of the loweredhollow pipe is thrust onto the flange of the neighbouring hollow pipeand subsequently the hollow pipe is lowered onto the underwater bed areaand this procedure is repeated once or a number of times as required forwhat then becomes the last row of hollow pipes in the direction ofmovement. In other words, the hollow pipes are moved from the last rowof hollow pipes in the direction of movement to the front end of theworking platform in the direction of movement.

Additionally, the present invention provides different uses for theworking apparatus of the invention, namely processes in accordance withclaims 21 to 24 and a working machine driving on a working platform of aworking apparatus in accordance with any of claims 1 to 9, comprising anundercarriage and superstructure, the undercarriage having trackedrunning gear and the superstructure being provided with claw bracketswhich are designed such that they make it possible to turn theundercarriage in order to change the direction of travel of the workingapparatus. While it is possible to drive on the working platform of theworking apparatus of the invention with conventional working machines,such as a tracked excavator, this entails the disadvantage that theworking machine damages the upper ends of the hollow pipes with thecaterpillar track when it makes turning movements.

When it is necessary to change the direction of travel with the workingmachine of the invention, the working machine supports itself on theclaw brackets, lifts itself and turns the tracked running gear. As itdoes so, the tracked running gear is suspended in the air on thesuperstructure and can turn freely without coming into contact with theworking platform. Once the tracked running gear has been placed in thenew direction of travel, the claw brackets are retracted again and thetracked running gear is lowered onto the working platform.

Dependent claims 2 to 9 relate to advantageous further developments ofthe working apparatus of the invention. The hollow pipes may, forexample, be of different cross-sectional shapes. Apart from honeycombpipes, i.e. hexagonal pipes, adapter pipes may be used in order to adaptto the particular situation or, for example, to create an at leastsubstantially rectangular working platform.

In the process for setting up a working apparatus, it may becontemplated that at least two bulkheads are attached to the side of theworking platform. The purpose of this is to seal off bank areas forprocessing against waves, currents and other influences. It isconvenient for the bulkheads to be suspended in the hollow tubes andsunk into the bottom of a bank.

The invention is based on the surprising finding that thanks to thespecial design of the hollow pipes, a working apparatus with a workingplatform can be created in a simple and time-saving manner, which can befirmly positioned on the bed area of a body of water and can bedismantled, reassembled and moved or relocated in a simple andtime-saving manner, and which is versatile for use in processingunderwater bed areas. The system for joining the hollow pipes togetheris advantageously designed such that there are hollow pipes at the outeredge of the working platform which do not have any projections withflanges extending into them, so that they are particularly suitable forpouring material into the hollow pipe from above in order to depositmaterial onto an underwater bed area or to remove material from theunderwater bed area. In addition, it is convenient that when a hollowpipe is removed, a hollow pipe located in front of it is automaticallycleared which no longer has a projection with a flange extending intoit.

With the working apparatus of the invention, it is possible to installsealing material in a controlled way and to deposit protective andballast layers on top of it, without the sealing layer being exposed tothe open water of a waterway, for example, without protection. In theprocess of the invention, sealing, protective and ballast layersdeposited via the hollow pipe are built first of all against existingsealing, protective and ballast layers which have already been installedand secondly against the working platform. The working apparatus offersthe sealing material ideal protection against harmful influences. Whilethe hollow pipe is being pulled out, the remaining cavities formedbecause of the walls of the hollow pipes close automatically as theparticles of the materials deposited are redistributed in the individuallayers. Similarly, other minerals, mixtures of minerals and mineralsconsolidated with binders can be extensively incorporated on a bed or onbanks under water.

In addition, the working apparatus of the invention enables a processfor removing silt from underwater bed areas. In the state of the art,silt in waterways is removed or disposed of by means of dredging usingan excavator positioned on a working platform. Another known processconsists in siphoning silt off the bed of a waterway. In this processtoo, a suction apparatus is mounted on a working machine, unusually anexcavator, which is positioned on floating equipment. In all theconventional processes, however, it is impossible to prevent furthersilt from flowing from the waterway into the area already dredged. Thismeans that it is sometimes necessary for areas that have already beendredged to be reworked several times.

In the process of the invention for removing silt using the workingapparatus of the invention, silt can largely be prevented from flowingback. The silt is removed, for example, by excavating in each separatehollow pipe of the working platform. This alone is enough to preventfurther silt from flowing into the hollow pipe. Furthermore, the workingplatform moves forwards against the direction of flow of the body ofwater, in the course of which the silt is removed or excavated at therear side, away from the approaching water. This prevents further siltfrom flowing into areas already dredged by the working platform.

The construction of dams in waterways and bodies of water is becomingmore and more important in order to protect the population, facilities,especially port facilities, the environment and nature. These damconstructions are conventionally built out from the land using a pierhead system, i.e. into the water. To do this, considerable areas of landhave to be made available for the construction work, at the expense ofthe environment and nature.

With the working apparatus of the invention, dams can also beconstructed in waterways and bodies of water from the water side. Forthis purpose, the hollow pipes are used to install the dam buildingmaterial under water.

Just as in the process for removing silt in waterways, the deepening ofwaterways and bodies of water is currently performed from floatingequipment if there is no possibility of carrying out the work from theland. Because of the effects of the tide, the floating equipment isdependent on particular tide times when the work can be carried out. Atlow tide for example, the floating equipment has to leave the work siteso as not to run aground. At high tide too, the equipment has to beremoved from the work site or, because of the high water level, cannotcontinue the work, owing to the limited range of the excavator arm.

When the working apparatus of the invention is used, work on deepeningwaterways and bodies of water can be carried out independently of thetide, since the excavation work is no longer dependent on the depth ofthe water. It is convenient for the excavation work on the workingplatform of the working apparatus also to be carried out by means of acable excavator and clamshell buckets, so that the range of theexcavator arm is no longer a limiting factor. Thanks to the deepening,i.e. excavation in each separate hollow pipe, the areas to be worked oncan be processed precisely.

Further features and advantages of the invention will become clear fromthe claims and the following description, in which the embodiments areillustrated in detail with reference to the schematic drawings in which

FIG. 1 a shows a perspective view of two hollow pipes to be joinedtogether;

FIG. 1 b shows a view of a different embodiment of a hollow pipe seenfrom above;

FIGS. 2 a to 2 e show various stages of fixing the two hollow pipes fromFIG. 1 together;

FIG. 3 shows a view of a working platform of the working apparatus inaccordance with a particular embodiment of the invention seen fromabove;

FIG. 4 shows a view of a working platform of the working apparatus inaccordance with a further particular embodiment of the invention seenfrom above;

FIGS. 5 a to 5 c show various stages of advancing a working platform ofa working apparatus in accordance with a particular embodiment of thepresent invention in a view seen from above;

FIG. 6 shows a view of a working platform of a working apparatus inaccordance with a further particular embodiment of the invention seenfrom above;

FIGS. 6 a and 6 b show various stages of a working platform of a workingapparatus in accordance with a further particular embodiment of theinvention in a view seen from above;

FIGS. 7 a to 7 c show various stages of a process for sealing underwaterbed areas in accordance with a particular embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 8 shows a process for removing silt in accordance with a particularembodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 9 shows a view of a working machine in accordance with a particularembodiment of the invention, seen from the front.

FIG. 1 a shows two hollow pipes 10 and 12 to form a working apparatus inaccordance with a particular embodiment of the present invention. Thehollow pipes 10 and 12 are hexagonal in cross-section and each have, attheir upper ends, a projection 14 extending orthogonally to the outerwall of the hollow pipe, or horizontally (see also FIGS. 2 a to 2 e),with a rectangular flange 16 disposed on the outer end thereof andextending vertically, and with a corresponding flange insertion aperture18 on the opposite side, followed by a transition region 19 taperingtowards the top, followed in turn by a slot 20 running vertically andextending as far as the upper end of the hollow pipe. In this case, FIG.1 shows the hollow pipe 10 from the front and the hollow pipe 12 fromthe back. The flange insertion aperture 18 has larger horizontaldimensions b_(F) than those b_(L) of the slot 20. In addition, thedistance a_(F) of the flange insertion aperture 18 from the upper end ofthe hollow pipe 12 is greater than the distance a_(A) of the projection14 or flange 16 from the upper end of the hollow pipe 10.

FIG. 1 b shows a hollow pipe 10 with a projection 14 and a modifiedflange 16. Said flange 16 is designed as a round head.

FIGS. 2 a to 2 d now show the procedure for setting up the workingplatform of a working apparatus in accordance with a particularembodiment of the present invention, partially in a perspective view andin section view in each case. This begins with lowering the hollow pipe10 onto the bed area 22 under water 24 (see FIG. 2 a). After that, thehollow pipe 12 is lowered next to the hollow pipe 10, until the flangeinsertion aperture 18 of the hollow pipe 12 is on the same level as theflange 16 of the hollow pipe 10 (see FIG. 2 b). The flange insertionaperture of the hollow pipe 12 is then thrust onto the flange 16 of thehollow pipe 10 (see FIG. 2 c), after which the hollow pipe 12 is loweredonto the bed area 22 under water 24 (see FIG. 2 d). These steps arerepeated in order to equip the working platform with further hollowpipes (not shown). In FIG. 2 e, the hollow pipe 10 is pulled out upwardsin order, for example, to relocate it at another end of the workingplatform or to dismantle the working platform.

FIG. 3 shows a resulting working platform 26 in a view seen from abovewhere, in addition to the hexagonal hollow pipes 10 and 12, adapterpipes are provided, i.e. likewise hollow pipes, with the cross-sectionof one and a half hexagons, which have been labelled with the referencenumeral 32.

FIG. 4 shows a corresponding view, but this time also with hollow pipeswith the cross-section of double hexagons, namely 34 and 38.

In FIGS. 3 and 4, the hollow pipes 10, 12 with an hexagonalcross-section each have two projections 14 with flanges (two of whichhave been labelled with the reference numeral 16) and two flangeinsertion apertures each. The projections and the flange insertionapertures are arranged opposite each other in each case.

FIGS. 5 a to 5 c show a process for moving the working apparatus of theinvention in accordance with a particular embodiment of the invention.In order to make the Figures easier to understand, the hollow pipes arenumbered by row, namely 1 a, 1 b . . . for the first row, 2 a, 2 b . . .for the second row and so on. In FIG. 5 a, the hollow pipe 1 a is in theprocess of being used to work on a bed area 22 under water, such as forsealing. After use, the hollow pipe 1 a is pulled out upwards and fixedto a hollow pipe in the fourth row, namely the hollow pipe 4 a, in themanner shown in FIGS. 2 a to 2 d and described accordingly. Ultimately,therefore, the hollow pipe 1 a is relocated. This is done for all thehollow pipes 1 a to if of the first row in succession. These are placedone after the other next to the hollow pipes of the fourth and fixed tothem in the way already described. It goes without saying that theworking platform or the working apparatus could also be moved withoutany work being performed on the bed area.

FIG. 5 c shows the situation in which the hollow pipes 1 a to 1 d havealready been relocated.

FIGS. 6 a and 6 b in principle show the same procedure, but in theregion of the bank 40. In this case, two bulkheads 42 and 44 aresuspended in the hollow pipes 2 f and 4 f to the side of the workingplatform 26 and are sunk into the bottom of the bank 41. At the sametime as the hollow pipe 2 f is relocated, the bulkhead 42 is relocated.

FIGS. 7 a to 7 d show the use of a working apparatus in accordance witha particular embodiment of the present invention when sealing a bed area22 under water 24. Four hollow pipes 46, 48, 50 and 52 of the workingapparatus can be seen. To the right of the hollow pipes, a sealing layer54, a filter layer 56, a filter layer 58 and a protective layer 60 ofwater engineering stones are deposited one on top of the other, frombottom to top. In FIG. 7 b, a corresponding layer arrangement is nowcreated by pouring corresponding materials into the hollow pipe 52. InFIG. 7 c, the hollow pipe 52 is pulled out upwards, so that continuouslayers 54 to 60 form quite quickly. The hollow pipe 52 is now placed tothe left of the hollow pipe 46 and then joined to it in the waydescribed in connection with the FIGS. 2 a to 2 d (see FIG. 7 d).

Finally, FIG. 8 shows a process for removing silt on the bed area 22under water 24, for example in a canal. In the canal concerned, aworking apparatus 62 in accordance with a particular embodiment of thepresent invention is arranged on the bed area 22. That working apparatushas a working platform 64, which protrudes from the water 24. Moving onthe working platform 64 is a working machine 66, namely an excavator,with claw brackets 68 on its superstructure 70 (see FIG. 9). This makesit possible to change the direction of travel of the working machinewithout damaging the upper ends of the hollow pipes forming the workingplatform 64, as shown in FIGS. 2 a to 2 d for example. As can be seenfrom Figure, the silt 72 has already been removed on the left of theworking apparatus 62. It is transported away in a barge 74. The silt isremoved by dredging in the hollow pipes of the working platform 64 onthe side 78 facing away from the side 76 towards which the water isflowing. After the silt has been removed, the hollow pipes are onceagain relocated to the side 76 towards which the water is flowing.

The features of the invention disclosed in the present description, inthe drawings and in the claims can be essential to implementing theinvention in its various embodiments both individually and in anycombinations.

1. A working apparatus (62) for processing, especially sealing,underwater (24) bed areas (22), especially beds and banks (40) ofwaterways, especially canals, comprising a plurality of polygonal hollowpipes (10, 12, 32, 34, 38) arranged in parallel side by side and atleast substantially without gaps, the upper ends of which form ahorizontal, at least substantially flat working platform (26), whereineach hollow pipe has on its outer wall at least one projection extendingsubstantially horizontally (14) with a flange (16) disposed on its outerend and extending vertically and at least one corresponding flangeinsertion aperture (18) with a slot (20) immediately above it which runsvertically and extends as far as the upper end of the hollow pipe (10,12), the flange insertion aperture (18) being disposed further away fromthe upper end of the hollow pipe (10, 12) than the projection (14) withthe flange (16) and being of greater horizontal dimensions than the slot(20), and wherein neighbouring hollow pipes (10, 12) are in engagementwith one another via a respective projection (14) on one of the hollowpipes (10, 12) with a corresponding slot (20) in the other of the hollowpipes (10, 12), such that the hollow pipes (10, 12) cannot be movedrelative to one another in the horizontal direction and only at theouter edge of the working platform (26) can at least one hollow pipe bepulled out individually in the vertically upward direction.
 2. Theworking apparatus (62) of claim 1, characterised in that the hollowpipes (10, 12, 32, 34, 38) are made of metal, a metal alloy or plastic.3. The working apparatus (62) of claim 1, characterised in that thehollow pipes (10, 12) are identical in the shapes of theircross-sections.
 4. The working apparatus (62) of claim 1, characterisedin that the hollow pipes (10, 12, 32, 34, 38) are different in theshapes of their cross-sections.
 5. The working apparatus (62) of claim1, characterised in that at least part of the hollow pipes (10, 12) ishexagonal.
 6. The working apparatus (62) of claim 1, characterised inthat the at least one projection (14) and the at least one flangeinsertion aperture (18) per hollow pipe are disposed on opposite sides(78) of the hollow pipe (10, 12).
 7. The working apparatus (62) of claim1, characterised in that the projection (14) is designed to besubstantially tapering, preferably in a wedge shape, from the flange(16) to the associated hollow pipe.
 8. The working apparatus (62) asclaimed in claim 1, characterised in that the projection (14) isdesigned to be substantially tapering, preferably in a wedge shape, inthe vertically upward direction.
 9. The working apparatus (62) of claim1, characterised in that each hollow pipe with its two projections isprovided with a flange (16) and two corresponding flange insertionapertures (18) with a slot (20).
 10. A process for setting up a workingapparatus (62) on an underwater (24) bed area (22), especially beds andbanks (40) of waterways, especially canals, characterised in that itcomprises: (a) lowering a first hollow pipe (10) onto the bed area (22)under water (24); (b) lowering a second hollow pipe (12) next to thefirst hollow pipe until the or a flange insertion aperture (18) of thesecond hollow pipe (12) is on the same level as the or a flange (16) ofthe first hollow pipe (10); (c) thrusting the flange insertion aperture(18) of the second hollow pipe (12) onto the flange (16) of the firsthollow pipe (10); and (d) lowering the second hollow pipe (12) onto thebed area (22) under water (24); and (e) repeating steps (b)-(d)analogously with further hollow pipes to set up the working platform(26).
 11. The process as claimed in claim 10, characterised in that atleast two bulkheads (42, 44) are attached to the side of the workingplatform (26).
 12. The process as claimed in claim 11, characterised inthat the bulkheads (42, 44) are suspended in the hollow pipes and aresunk into the bottom of the bank (41).
 13. A process for moving aworking apparatus (62) as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that thelast row of hollow pipes in the direction of movement can be pulled outupwards, one after the other, and lowered again at the front end of theworking platform (26) in the direction of movement, until the or aflange insertion aperture (18) of the lowered hollow pipe is on the samelevel as the or a flange (16) of a neighbouring hollow pipe, the flangeinsertion aperture (18) of the lowered hollow pipe is thrust onto theflange (16) of the neighbouring hollow pipe and subsequently the hollowpipe is lowered onto the underwater (24) bed area (22) and thisprocedure is repeated once or a number of times as required for whatthen becomes the last row of hollow pipes in the direction of movement.14. A process for sealing bed areas (22) under water (24), especiallybeds and banks (40) of waterways, especially canals, using a workingapparatus (62) as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that itcomprises: (a) setting up the working apparatus (62) in accordance saidprocess; (b) pouring a self-sealing, pourable sealing material to createa sealing layer (54) into a hollow pipe (52) which can be pulled outupwards individually and is located at the outer edge of the workingplatform (26); (c) pouring a protective material into the hollow pipe(52) to create at least one protective layer (60) on the sealing layer(54); (d) pulling the hollow pipe (52) upwards out of the workingplatform (26); (e) lowering the hollow pipe (52) in a different,preferably opposite, area of the outer edge of the working platform(26), until the or a flange insertion aperture (18) of the hollow pipe(52) is on the same level as the or a flange (16) of a neighbouringhollow pipe (48); (f) thrusting the flange insertion aperture (18) ofthe second hollow pipe (52) onto the flange (16) of the first hollowpipe (48); (g) lowering the hollow pipe (52) onto the bed area (22)under water (24); and (h) repeating steps (b)-(g) for at least onefurther hollow pipe which can be pulled out upwards individually. 15.The process as claimed in claim 14, characterised in that the sealingmaterial comprises a plurality of three-dimensional, preferablydisk-shaped or platey bodies, each of which consists of an homogenisedblend of clayey soil mixture and at least one swellable material whichswells upon contact with water (24).
 16. The process as claimed in claim14, characterised in that the sealing material comprises processed soilmixture mixed with at least at least one swellable material which swellsupon contact with water (24).
 17. The process of claim 14, characterisedin that the at least one swellable material is bentonite powder,bentonite beads or bentonite pellets.
 18. The process of claim 14,characterised in that the or at least one protective layer (60) is afilter layer (56, 58) or a layer of water engineering stones.
 19. Theprocess of claim 14, characterised in that in step (b), a separatingmaterial, preferably prepared from clay chips, is poured into the hollowpipe directly onto the sealing layer (54) in order to create aseparating layer.
 20. The process as claimed in claim 14, characterisedin that in step (b), before the sealing material is poured in, aseparating material, preferably prepared from clay chips, is poured intothe hollow pipe, optionally onto a subgrade, in order to create aseparating layer.
 21. A process for extensively incorporating minerals,mixtures of minerals or minerals consolidated with binders on a bed area(22) under water (24), especially beds and banks (40) of waterways,especially canals, using a working apparatus (62) as claimed in claim 1,characterised in that it comprises: (a) setting up the working apparatus(62) in accordance with said process; (b) pouring at least one mineral,a mixture of minerals or minerals consolidated with binders to create acorresponding layer in a hollow pipe which is located at the outer edgeof the working platform (26) and can be pulled out upwards individually;(c) pulling the hollow pipe upwards out of the working platform (26);(d) lowering the hollow pipe in a different area of the outer edge ofthe working platform (26) until the or a flange insertion aperture (18)of the hollow pipe is on the same level as the or a flange (16) of aneighbouring hollow pipe; (e) thrusting the flange insertion aperture(18) of the lowered hollow pipe onto the flange (16) of the neighbouringhollow pipe (48); (f) lowering the hollow pipe onto the bed area (22)under water (24); and (g) repeating steps (b)-(e) for at least onefurther hollow pipe which can be pulled out upwards individually.
 22. Aprocess for removing silt from bed areas (22) under water (24),especially beds and banks (40) of waterways, especially canals, using aworking apparatus (62) as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that itcomprises: (a) setting up the working apparatus (62) in accordance withsaid process; (b) removing silt (72) from a hollow pipe which can bepulled out upwards individually and which is located on the outer edgeof the working platform (26) opposite the side (76) towards which thewater is flowing; (c) pulling the hollow pipe upwards out of the workingplatform (26); (d) lowering the hollow pipe at the outer edge of theworking platform (26) on the side (76) towards which the water isflowing, until the or a flange insertion aperture (18) of the hollowpipe is on the same level as the or a flange (16) of a neighbouringhollow pipe; (e) thrusting the flange insertion aperture (18) of thelowered hollow pipe onto the flange (16) of the neighbouring hollow pipe(48); (f) lowering the hollow pipe onto the bed area (22) under water(24); and (g) repeating steps (c)-(f) for at least one further hollowpipe which can be pulled out upwards individually.
 23. A process fordredging waterways and bodies of water, especially in the tidal region,using a working apparatus (62) as claimed in claim 1, characterised inthat it comprises: (a) setting up the working apparatus (62) inaccordance with said process; (b) dredging material out of a hollow pipewhich can be pulled out upwards individually; (c) pulling the hollowpipe upwards out of the working platform (26); (d) lowering the hollowpipe in a different area of the outer edge of the working platform (26);(e) thrusting the flange insertion aperture (18) of the lowered hollowpipe onto the flange (16) of the neighbouring hollow pipe (48); (f)lowering the hollow pipe onto the bed area (22) under water (24); and(g) repeating steps (b)-(e) for at least one further hollow pipe whichcan be pulled out upwards individually.
 24. A process for creating damsin waterways and bodies of water, using the working apparatus (62) asclaimed in claim 1, characterised in that it comprises: (a) setting upthe working apparatus (62) in accordance with said process; (b) pouringa dam building material into a hollow pipe which can be pulled outupwards individually and is located at the outer edge of the workingplatform (26); (c) pulling the hollow pipe upwards out of the workingplatform (26); (d) lowering the hollow pipe in an opposite area of theouter edge of the working platform (26) until the or a flange insertionaperture (18) of the hollow pipe is on the same level as the or a flange(16) of a neighbouring hollow pipe; (e) thrusting the flange insertionaperture (18) of the lowered hollow pipe onto the flange (16) of theneighbouring hollow pipe; (f) lowering the hollow pipe onto the bed area(22) under water (24); and (g) repeating steps (c)-(f) for at least onefurther hollow pipe which can be pulled out upwards individually.
 25. Aworking machine (66) driving on a working platform (26; 64) of a workingapparatus (62) as claimed in claim 1, comprising an undercarriage and asuperstructure (70), the undercarriage having tracked running gear andthe superstructure (70) being provided with claw brackets (68) which aredesigned such that they make it possible to turn the undercarriage inorder to change the direction of travel of the working apparatus (66).26. The working machine (66) as claimed in claim 25, characterised inthat it is an excavator.